The Kroger Co. and the USO are strengthening their partnership with a fresh campaign to support men and women in the armed forces and their families.

In conjunction with the Daytona 500 celebration on Sunday, Feb. 26, Kroger will launch ‘Honoring OurHeroes’, a year-long initiative to raise funds for members of our armed forces in partnership with the USO, the leading organization for morale-boosting programs and services for American troops and their families. This is the second year Kroger is sponsoring Honoring Our Heroes.

Thirteen Kroger associates from across the company will join in presenting a $1.5 million donation to the USO prior to the race.  The funds were raised in 2011 in partnership with key suppliers and through the contributions of customers and associates at Kroger’s family of stores across the country. This donation will support USO programs serving members of the military, wounded warriors and their families.

“For more than 70 years, the USO has been lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families in many ways, including free phone calls and internet to connect with their loved ones back home, care packages to let them know they are never forgotten, and USO Centers around the world, where they can rest or get a free bite to eat,” said USO President and CEO Sloan Gibson.

“None of this would be possible without dedicated partners like Kroger. Our partnership with Kroger makes it possible for our troops and their families to know that their efforts and sacrifices are appreciated.  And this is the best way we can honor our heroes.”

In addition to being Kroger associates, these men and women also are active-duty or reservist members of our armed forces. They represent all five branches of the military and the National Guard.

“We can’t think of more fitting ambassadors of our program than our own people, and we are pleased to recognize their service in front of the Daytona 500 race fans,” said Lynn Marmer, group vice president of Corporate Affairs for Kroger.  ”We thank all of our associates in the military for their service to our country, our communities, and our company.  The Kroger family of stores looks forward to helping the USO assist even more of our men and women in uniform.”

As it did in 2011, the Kroger-USO car, driven by NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte, will carry a special Kroger logo in this year’s Daytona 500. This emblem features the names of more than 350 Kroger associates who are active duty or reservist members of the U.S. military, in tribute to their service.  In addition, Labonte will wear a special helmet during Sunday’s race.  Featuring a striking eagle motif and customized paint scheme, the helmet was designed by an associate at Kroger’s general office in Cincinnati especially for this race.

“It’s great to work with Kroger again and have them on board for one of the most prestigious races of the season, the Daytona 500,” Labonte said. “The Kroger logo on the hood of our No. 47 Toyota Camry is pretty cool because it is paying special tribute to hundreds of Kroger associates from across the country.  We also have USO on the car. Kroger did an amazing job through Honoring Our Heroes. We’re proud to carry the USO in The Great American Race on Sunday.”

Kroger is the exclusive retail partner for the Daytona 500. Learn more about special in-store and online Daytona 500 promotions at Kroger and its family of stores at www.kroger.com.

Best known for its entertainment tours, the USO provides programs and services to those who need the USO the most, including deployed troops and their families, wounded, ill and injured service members and their families, as well as families of the fallen. To learn about the USO’s mission to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families, visit www.uso.org.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/imcomkorea/

The article ‘Honoring OurHeroes’ Initiative to Be Launched at Daytona 500 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

A new Gallup Poll reveals that the country approves of President Obama’s decision to remove troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Polls showed a 75% backing in total, but many Republican GOP candidates disagreed with the president’s decision. In his 2008 campaign, President Obama made the promise to withdrawal troops from Iraq and transition to full Iraq responsibility.

With re-election just around the corner; this decision could be beneficial for his support. The troops are planned to be back in the United States by December 31, 2011, bringing an end to the war that has been fought since 2003.

In his speech Obama stated, “The last American soldier will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops.” Even with the majority of the country supporting his decision, it has received criticism from almost all of the Republican GOP candidates.

One of them being Mitt Romney, who is now tied with the president for support in a recent Gallup Poll. Romney, along with many other republicans discussed the abrupt end to the war in Iraq would throw away any progress made in the several years we have been in that country.

At a campaign stop at Granite State, a day after the announcement of the withdrawal of troops, Romney stated, “The unavoidable question is whether this decision is the result of a naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude in negotiations with the Iraqi government. The American people deserve to hear the recommendations that were made by our military commanders in Iraq.”

Another GOP hopeful, Michele Bachmann voiced her opposition to the president’s decision stating, “Today’s announcement that we will remove all of our forces from Iraq is a political decision and not a military one; it represents the complete failure of President Obama to secure an agreement with Iraq for our troops to remain there to preserve the peace and demonstrates how far our foreign policy leadership has fallen.”

Another GOP hopeful, Herman Cain, criticized the president’s public announcement to have the troop’s home by December 31^st, saying it wasn’t common sense to reveal the details and dates of the Unites States’ decisions to the enemy. He also said, “I happen to think that Iran is just sitting back and waiting for us to leave and then they’re going to go back in and they’re going to try to control the whole country.

Even though the county shows a strong approval of President Obama’s decision, the GOP candidates fear the repercussions of an abrupt and unfinished end to the seven year war with Iraq.

The article US Backs President’s Decision to Withdrawal Troops; GOP Doesn’t appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.